Group targets NBA expansion team for Montreal

MONTREAL — A Quebec group wants to bring an NBA team to Montreal even though the league has no current plans to expand.

The business group is led by former federal cabinet minister and senator Michael Fortier. He said Wednesday he has spoken with NBA commissioner Adam Silver, saying his group has “taken the decision to prepare for when expansion does take place.”

The group has been meeting with potential Canadian and foreign investors.

Fortier estimated a franchise would cost $1.5 billion to $2 billion, but no public funding would be required. He says Montreal Canadiens owner Geoff Molson is open to an NBA team playing at the NHL club’s Bell Centre.

The favorite for an NBA expansion team is Seattle, which lost the SuperSonics to Oklahoma City in 2008.